Pressure varying device for twine knotters



March 2, 1954 2,670,977

Filed March 19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l Carl S. Rudeen INVENTOR.

March 2, 1954 c. s. RUDEEN 2,670,977 PRESSURE VARYING DEVICE FOR TWINE KNOTTERS Filed March 19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Carl 5. Rudeen INVENTOR.

, M406. BY nwayfi-M Patented Mar. 2, 1954 PRESSURE VARYING DEVICE FOR TWINE KNOTTERS Carl S. Rudeen, Brawley, Calif.

Application March 19, 1951, Serial No. 216,360

This invention comprises new and useful improvements in a twine knotter or tier and is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending applica-' tion, Serial No. 206, 61, filed on January 16, 1951, 'now Patent No. 2,644,703 issued July '7, 1953.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a means for increasing th pressure on the baling strand during the bale chamber pressing operation and for sequentially decreasing the pressure during the knot-tying operation. I A more specific object of this invention is to provide a device for accomplishing the foregoing object in a more positive manner than methods heretofore known.

A specific improvement over my co-pending application, hereinabove cited, is the replacement of th centrally pivoted rocker arm and cam Wheel having an outside cam surface by a U-shaped unidirectional arm bearing against a cam wheel having an inside cam surface.

Further, it has also been found that in order.

to provide a versatile pressure varying device whereby the same could be attached to all conventional baling machines without interference with the existing movable parts, a structure as herein described was needed.

These, together with the various ancillary features and objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which i illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side fragmentary view illustrating the structure of the present invention, the elements thereof being in the reduced pressure position;

- Figure 2 is a side fragmentary view illustrat ing the structure of the instant invention, the

elements thereof being in a position for exerting the maximum amount of pressure;

Figure 3 is an end fragmentary view illustrating in particular the shape of the improvement of the instant invention;

Figure 4 is a side sectional fragmentary view illustrating essential elements of the instant invention; and,

Figure 5 is a top sectional view illustrating the particular portion of the strand tying mechanism, on which the controlling elements of the instant invention are applied.

8 Claims. (Cl. 289--14) It will be appreciated by reference to my co 1,

pending application, Serial No. 206,161, now Pat ent No. 2,644,703, that several features thereo might, in some instances, prove undesirable for the following reasons. These reasons are essentially based on the particular nature of the rocker arm in that it necessitates a central pivoted connection. On the one hand, the relative mow tion between the cam surface and cam wheel and the very fact that the rocker arm is centrally pivoted, all add in a tendency for the rocker arm to be subjected to an objectionable side thrust or sway. Further, whenever pressure is being applied to the trigger arm in the device of my co-pending application, the roller must necessarily b riding on the upper surface of the cam wheel thereby also subjecting the pivoted connection or bifurcated element and the journal bearing of the rocker arm to an upwardly directed stress. It has been determined that the results of these undesired forces or stresses are a reduction in the positive application of pressure and undue wear on the bearing surfaces. Further, it is believed that th structure is greatly simplified and it is a fact that the parts required are fewer with the present improvement,

Accordingly, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings and to the drawings of my co-pending application, hereinabove cited, Where: in for purposes of clarity, like numerals will be used in all the elements with the exception of the improved parts specifically believed to be the inventive features of this application.

As will be noted in Figures 1, 2 and, more specifically, in Figure 5, there is illustrated a pair of holder disks or notched plates 88 which are rigidly secured for rotation on a shaft 88' which is journalled in a knotter frame 61. 'I'hislatter shaft is secured to a worm wheel 81 engaging and being driven by a worm gear 86. Further, the worm wheel 86 has a shaft extending therefrom being provided at the opposite nd with a beveled gear, not shown, for synchronized rotat ing engagement with a toothed segment of the cam member 8!. Lastly, it will be appreciated that the cam wheel or member 8| is rotated through its fixed connection to the control shaft 50.

The twine or strand H1 is fed or placed in the notches of the notched disk 88 by some means, such as the conventional needle 54 of my copending application hereinabov cited, and is held therein by means of the holder trigger 92,

also secured on the control shaft 50 is a cam.

track 25!) having its camming surface 252 disposed on the inside, that is facing the cam member 8|. This cam surface 252 consists essentially of a circular track having segmental portions of different levels or dips. Specifically, it will be noted that the cam surface 252 consists of a dipped segment 254 and a raised segment 256, the latter comprising the greater are of the circular surface. The reinforcing means 258 and 260 are also applied at desired positions around the periphery of the cam track 259.

A cylindrical member or lug 262 is bolted or otherwise secured to the depending ear 284 of the knotter frame 61 and is centrally provided with a bore 266. Journalled within this bore 266 is the web or bight portion 268 of a U-shaped member 276 also having a pair of arms 212 and 214.

At the outer end of arm 212 is a recess 27$ wherein is journalled a roller 2'! which is posi-- tioned for rolling engagement upon the cam surface 252.

Y The other arm 2H has attached at its outer end a spring means consisting of a spring "280 disposed between a pair of disks 282 and 285, each of the disks having inwardly directed projections 285 for guiding reception of the spring 28.0. The disk 285 bears directly on the fiat surface 2'52 of the holder trigger 92. It should be noted that the spring 28% is received in a bore provided within the proper portion of the knotter frame Bl.

In operation, when hay or the like is being forced into the baling chamber, not shown herein but clearly ascertainable in the drawings of my co-pending application hereinabove cited, it is desired to. apply more pressure on the arm or holder trigger 92 than would be effected by its free operation and, accordingly, through rotation of shaft 50, the proper portion or segment, namely, 256 of the cam surface 252 is. made to come in contact with the roller 278. This causes the U-shaped follower 210 to pivot inwardly thereby compressing the spring 286 against the surface 232 of the holder trigger 92.

This increased pressure is maintained on the strand I ll until such time as the needle or other feeding means has placed the other end of the strand in the holder disks and the knotting means has begun its operation. Accordingly, when tensioning of the strand Ill begins to take effect, that portion or segment 254 of the cammed surface 252 is presented to the roller 218. Since the follower 210 is freely journalled in the bore 266v the compressed spring 280 will urge the follower upwardly or outwardly, as the case may be, allowing the roller 218 to follow or roll along the dipped portion 254. As will be clearly evident, this will reduce the pressure of the holder trigger 92,0n the strand H! allowing the same to slip through the notched disks as whereby tensioning of the strand is relieved, preventing breakage.

From the foregoing, the construction of the. device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact structure shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

' Having described-the invention, what is claimed 'as 'new is: F

In a'knotting mechanism including a bill hook, a strand holder including peripherally notched holder plates, a pivoted holder trigger extending between said holder plates, a strand feeding needle for applying a strand to said holder plates and means for actuating said billhook, strand holder and strand feeding needle in timed relation, the improvement comprising; resilient means maintaining a yielding pressure urging said: trigger between said holder plate for yieldingly clamping a strand in the peripheral notches, means for increasing the pressure of the resilient means upon the trigger during predetermined periods in the operation of the knotting mechanism, said resilient means including a spring operatively engaging said trigger, said pressure increasing means including a member having laterally offset arms, one of said arms engaging said spring for variably tensioning the same, the other of said arms being operatively connected to and driven by said actuating means.

'2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said laterally offset arms lie in a common plane.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said laterally offset arms are parallel.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said member is U-shaped, comprising a central web from the opposite ends of which said arms extend, said web being iournaled for rocking movement of said arms.

5. In a knotting mechanism including a billhook, a strand, holder including peripherally notched holder plates, a pivoted holder trigger extending between said holder plates, a strand feeding needle for applying a strand to said holder plates and means for actuating said billhook strand holder and strand feeding needle in timed relation, the improvement comprising: resiiient means maintaining a yielding pressure urging said trigger between said holder plate for yieldingly clamping a strand in the peripheral notches, means for increasing the pressure of the resilient means upon the trigger during predetermined periods in the operation of the knotting mechanism, said resilient means including a spring operatively engaging said trigger, said actuating means including a control shaft, said shaft having a cam thereon, said pressure increasing means comprising a member having a pair of laterally ofiset arms, one arm operatively engaging said spring for variably tensioning the same and the other arm being operatively connected to said cam.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said laterally offset arms lie in a common plane.

I. The combination of claim 5 wherein said laterally offset arms are parallel.

8. The combination of claim 5 wherein said member is U-sh'aped, comprising a central web fromthe opposite ends of which said arms extend, said web being journaled for rocking movement of said arms.

CARL S. RUDEEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent 2,644,703 Rudeen July 7,1953 

